Not so hot for working in the cemetery today (25 May 2025) with Chris, Alan, Rita and Astrid popping in for an hour to ensure we take a tea break!
At the beginning of last week we were notified by the grass cutting team that an incident occurred while cutting the grass, one of the double graves gave way underfoot while the grass was being cut around it. The concrete slab covering the grave gave way in one of the corners, thankfully no damage to the workman who was cutting the grass, and he managed to make it safe so that no one else would come to any harm. Alan & Rita went in to inspect the grave and found that the rest of the grave seemed sound and secure apart from the top corner which had cracked and fallen in. Alan went in during the week and secured the concrete slab using seven concrete blocks, filling the hole with the broken slab and a wheelbarrow of earth, still more needed.
Today Alan, Chris and Rita were cleaning up in front of the new fences at the North end of the cemetery where the ground had been cleared so the neighbour could install new fence panels. There were lots of brambles, stones etc. and a fairly large mound of earth. A lot of the earth was dug up by the boys and taken to fill the rest of the hole in the Stowell grave that had given way. Alan sieved all the stone chipping from the grave to get the dirt out and Chris helped him to wash the stones. The only job left now is to mix concrete to replace the area of the broken slab and replace the red granite stone chipping. When all this is complete it should look as good as new.
The boys then worked to straighten up the remaining part of the original old iron fence that is at least one hundred years old at the North end of the cemetery, they managed to get it back to a reasonable state but more work will need to be done to make it more secure. Meanwhile Rita carried on clearing the debris, one and a half dumpy bags were filled but a lot more debris to be cleared away in this area.
Astrid brought in some Bird’s Foot Trefoil plants to brighten up the wild flower meadow. Rita assisted Astrid with planting and while fetching some water to give the plants a drink, Astrid did a bit of weeding. Another productive work session.